JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 3, 2025) – For just the third time ever, ETSU men's soccer will host a top 10 team in the country when UNCG takes the field Saturday night at Summers-Taylor Stadium in their SoCon opener. Admission is free.

MATCHUP: ETSU (0-5-3) vs. No. 10 UNCG (6-1-2)
DATE: October 4, 2025, 6:00pm
VENUE: Summers-Taylor Stadium (Johnson City, Tenn.)
LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
 
The Buccaneers come into the matchup after a 1-0 loss to Virginia Tech on Monday, frustrating the Hokies with dogged defending after losing Henrique Cruz to an early red card and nearly tying the game in the final minutes. The Bucs were picked fourth in the SoCon preseason poll in August. This is their third ranked opponent of the season in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25, following High Point (No. 24, now No. 7) and Gardner-Webb (No. 13, now unranked).

UNCG is the third different visiting team to enter a matchup at Summers-Taylor Stadium ranked in the top 10. Marshall was 10th in the country when they visited October 7, 2021, and North Carolina was fourth on Halloween in 2010. The Spartans are led by Enzo Dovlo, the SoCon's leader in goals (7) and points (18), who has a hat trick to his name this season against VCU. Arnaud Tattevin has scored in three of the last four games and is fourth in the SoCon with five goals.

This is the 23rd meeting between ETSU and UNCG in men's soccer. The series has been competitive, with the Spartans holding an 8-7-7 edge and having won three of the last five matchups. The last game in Johnson City saw the Buccaneers thump the Spartans 6-0, scoring the second-most goals in a game in program history. Tarik Pannholzer scored in the third minute, then UNCG goalkeeper Jarrett Payne was sent off in the ninth. Gabriel Ramos scored twice and had an assist.

For more information on ETSU men's soccer, go to ETSUBucs.com.